What is the skull called?
The skull is called the cranium. Gray's Anatomy (1918) describes it as the bony framework of the head, made up of 22 bones. Older texts sometimes use 'cranium' for the whole skull; modern texts often reserve it for just the braincase.
What it is
- The bony framework of the head, made up of 22 bones.
- Divided into the cranium proper (which encloses the brain) and the bones of the face.
- The cranial bones are joined by immovable joints called sutures.
Where it is
- At the top of the vertebral column.
- Rests on the atlas (first cervical vertebra).
- Encloses and protects the brain.
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Last verified: 2026-07-18
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